A Tanzanian professor has been elected as the WHO regional director for Africa.
Glamtush reports that a Tanzanian professor, Mohamed Janabi, has been elected the new World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa.
This news platform understands that the election took place during a special session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, held on Sunday in Geneva, ahead of the World Health Assembly.
His election followed the appointment of Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu as the Executive Director of the World Health Organisation Health Emergencies Programme, who was acting as the WHO Regional Director for Africa.
Ihekweazu was appointed the acting RD for the organization in Africa in February 2025, after the unexpected death of Dr. Faustine Engelbert Ndugulile, who was elected the RD in August 2024.
His priorities are universal health coverage, maternal and child health, combating communicable and non-communicable diseases, primary health care, climate-resilient health systems, health security, innovation and research, partnerships and collaboration, antimicrobial resistance, and domestic health financing.
He has a postdoctoral fellowship in cardiology at Osaka University Hospital, Japan (2004); a PhD in Cardiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan; a Master of Tropical Health, at Queensland Medical School, Australia (1994); and a Doctor of Medicine, Kharkov Medical Institute, Ukraine (1989).
He is an Honorary Professor at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (2003) and Adjunct Professor in Cardiology, Medical University of South Carolina, USA (2006).
He is married and passionate about sports and has actively contributed to their development in Tanzania.
From 2018 to June 2024, he served as a board member of Simba Sports Club, which achieved a CAF ranking of seven during his tenure.
Currently, he leads the Drug and Doping Committee for the East Africa-hosted AFCON 2027, ensuring fair play and integrity in this prestigious tournament.
Meanwhile, the Director General of WHO, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, has congratulated Janabi after the election.
Tedros, in a post on X, posted, “You have earned the confidence and trust of the member states of the region. This is a great privilege and a very great responsibility.
“I assure you of my support and that of my colleagues in Geneva.”
Also, the WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr Kazadi Mulombo, congratulated the new RD.
Mulombo said, “Congratulations Prof @ProfJanabi on your election as new RD @WHOAFRO by 47 Member States. We look forward to welcoming you and implementing your new vision for Africa Health Development.
“We @WHONigeria look forward to working under your leadership and stand ready to contribute to fulfilling your vision of a healthier, better, and more competitive Africa.”
